A MAJOR scheme has been unveiled to build a new residential estate in a green area at Scaffold Hill Farm, on Whitley Road, in Benton, North Tyneside.

Northumberland Estates, the Duke of Northumberland’s business arm, has drawn up proposals for 450 houses at Scaffold Hill Farm, on Whitley Road, in Benton, North Tyneside.

If approved, the development will include a doctor’s surgery, allotments, new shops and leisure facilities.

The homes would also be eco-friendly.

In addition, the project proposes a 100-acre extension to the existing Rising Sun Country Park.

Colin Barnes, Northumberland Estates’ director of planning, said: “We are delighted to share our plans for the development of Scaffold Hill.

“We have built a proposal for the whole community that will deliver a sustainable, eco-friendly housing development and improved facilities for the whole family at the Rising Sun Country Park.”

There are plans to preserve existing trees, create new tree belts and coppices, hedging, wildlife corridors, walking tracks and cycleways.

Around 100 acres of farm land will be added to the country park including a site for a multi-use games area for children, an adventure play ground with a zip wire, picnic space with facilities for the disabled, a formal play site with slides, see-saws and space for archery, and a water feature.

A network of ponds and refuges will be provided to support species including great crested newts.

New green corridors will provide habitats for birds, and foraging opportunities for bats will be created to encourage them to roost in the area.

However, the project has sparked protests from residents who say the Scaffold Hill green space will be lost.

They also believe the infrastructure in the area is not robust enough to support 450 new households and say the roads do not have the capacity to accommodate the extra traffic.

Members of the Holystone Action Group are among those against the scheme.

Keith Page, from the action group, said: “These proposals will strangle the Rising Sun Country Park by cutting off the wildlife corridor which feeds the park from Backworth. Even with the plans to create ponds, habitats for birds and other related schemes, they will not be able to mitigate the effects on the major wildlife corridor.”

The plans, which have been submitted to North Tyneside Council’s planning committee, were put on display at the Village Hotel, at the Cobalt Business Park yesterday.